The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1887-01-29
The Backbone E.and Grant.

Senator's Edmunds and Enstis were able
to rally but eleven votes in the Senate
against q partial confirmation of the back
bone land grant job. The bill as passed de-
ciares forfeited only the lands east Of the
Mississippi, aud confirms to the New Orleans
and Pacific the remainder of the grant il
bought from the New Orleans, Baton Ruuge
and Vicksburg Company, which never built
a mile of road. An amendment protecting
the rights of settlers within the limits of the
grant was Incorporated iu tho bill. bnt its
passage even in that shape was posi-
1dct0 ratification of one of the most auda-
cious and barefaced land grab frauds that
was ever perpetrated in this country There
are too many mllionaires in the Senate who
owe their overgrown fortunes to just such
raseally legislation.-St Louis Post-Dis-
patch, Dem.
AS other accounts of the proceedings in the
Senate upon tho Backbone Land Grant bill
made Senator Eustis figure in the role of the
poor boy at the froiic, We deem it due to that
gentlemen to reproduce the version of the oc
currence which is given in the following spe-
ciai to the eTimes-Democrat:
Washington, Jan. lS.-An account will lie
found in the Congressional proceedings of the
massage of the Backbone grant bill in the
Senate to-day. So far as this Congress is con
cerned it has received final action. One point,
however, not explained 10 the regular report
is this: At the time that Sena.s. Eustis Of
fered tho amendment declaring the forfeiture
of the grant and providing for the eonfirma-
tion of the title by purchase rom the railroad,
he gave notice ihat be, il that amendment
was voted down, would offer an amendment
protecting the settlers upon the granted lands
np to the time of the definite location of the
road. Before the vote was taken on the for
| feiture amendment Senator Gibson introduced
| the same amendment which Senator Enstis
| had given notice that he would effs5r, and
| under the ruling of the Chair, as that amend
ment was an amendment to the original text
of the bill, the vote had first to be taken OH it
| before vote could be taken on the forfeiture
/ amendment. Senator Eustis did rrt raise the
ouestion of priority under the note that he
| had given, as the amendment which was. of
ferred by Senator Gibson, and which he Tini-
self would have offered were to the same pur,
| pose.
Special to The Times Democrat.
/ WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-By concnrrlng IN
! the Senate amendments to the Backbone
/ Railroad bill the House finally disposed to-
i day Of the matter. The bill now goes TO the
/ President for Els signature. The final result
can be summed up thns: Both houses OF
4 Congress refused to I, rfeit that portion oil
4 the grant claimed By the New Orleans Pacific
| road. and confirmed the claim OF that road
/ Settiers on the grant are protected as fol
i lows: All whe were on the land at the date
of the definite location of the railroad, Octo
i Der, 1881, and who are otherwise entitled e
& the protection of the homestead laws, are
I permitted TO take thcir ianu Hhaer the honio
! stead laws. All who have gone upon tht
land after the date of deduite location, ane
J up to and inclusive of the rear 1881, are pro
s tected by the blanchard Robertsoa agree
meht
Senator Gibson has taken exception to TIL
dispatch sent to The Time -Democlat on fh'
night of the 18th inst, relating to the amend
/ ment to the bill protecting the settlers
!, When Senator Eustis gave notice OF his II
tended amendment, Senator Gibson, it ap
pears was not present. and consequently tli'
not know that Senator Eustis had given III
notice. 1T seems that he had previously mott
fed Senator Eustis that he intended opposn
j the amendment. The reason Senator Eustl
! gave notice was because he had made the bl
= special order and had called it up. Til
object of the dispatch was to show that SEM
i Tor Eustis equally intended to protect th
D settlers, and not to critieise the course
/ Senator Gibson.